FIRST LOOK: Common As James Bevel In Selma

Common has never been one to stay silent on important issues that plague our world. We saw him take a stance against hate crimes alongside Vince Staples, Jay Electronica and the parents of the late Mike Brown on stage at the BET Hip Hop Awards earlier this month. Now the Chicago rapper continues to fight injustice in communities across America by playing a character that originated the fight during the Civil Rights movement.

We’re finally getting a first look at Common in his latest acting role in the upcoming film Selma. Common plays community activist James Bevel, who led the legendary March on Washington in 1963 and spear-headed the Selma Voting Rights Movement in 1965. Directed by Ava DuVernay, the story documents the three-month period that led to the signing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, one of the most significant victories for the civil rights movement. The film features an all-star cast alongside Common including Tim Roth, Cuba Gooding Jr, and Oprah Winfrey.